Drop side crib



ATTORNEY IN VENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet l L56 Tic 7'02 tZ Bu/(ou;

v. J. BUKOLT DROP SIDE CRIB June 16, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 June 16, 1953 v. J. BUKOLT 2,641,775

DROP SIDE CRIB Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 26 F. 3 22 la 1k 1 (4) 7 'llllllllllll 6/ I 54 aw INVENTOR" 66 42 V/c 7'02 JBu au;

' ATTORNEX;

June 16, 1953 v, BUKOLT 2,641,775

DROP SIDE CRIB Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR Wm-01a tIB uxou;

BY I

- ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,408

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cribs of the type having slidable drop sides and an adjustable mattress frame.

Cribs of this type are made knock-down for convenience in transportation and storage, and when set up for use, are usually rather wobbly or non-rigid so that considerable strain is placed on the connections between the several parts. It is an object of the invention to provide a crib of this character with stabilizing means so that when set up for use it will not only be more rigid butwill permit of freer and non-binding sliding movement of the drop sides.

Another object of the invention is to provide detachable bracket connections between the stabilizing bars and the corner posts or end members of the crib, the brackets being not only adjustable on the stabilizing bars or side rails but adjustable on the corner posts to take care of slight manufacturing variations in the sizes of the parts and also permit of the adjustment of catch members carried by the brackets and coacting with latch rods on the drop sides.

Another object is to provide an improved foot controlled latching means for the drop side which is not only highly effective in locking the drop side in its raised and lowered positions but which is also of extremely simple and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide effective means for stopping the drop side when it reaches its raised position.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides in the vnovel combinations and arrangements of parts and the novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show the present preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of an infants crib ing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view onan enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a detail vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail vertical sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-45 respectively of Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line l'] of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

embody- Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an adjustable bracket connecting an end of one of the stabilizing bars or side rails to one of the corner posts or end'members of the crib;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a substitute form of bracket;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one ofthe latch bolts;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the foot actuated member for retracting the latch bolts; and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the levers associated with the latch bolts.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the numeral H denotes the two end members or frames and E2 the two drop sides. Each of the end frames has the two corner posts I3 connected by open-work or solid panel portions I4. Each of the drop sides usually consists of upper and. lower horizontal bars or rails i5 and [6 connected by spaced vertical slats 11. The drop sides are guided in their vertical movement on rods l8 which pass through openings near theends of the rails l5, l6 and have their upper ends laterally off-set and secured by screws I 9 to the inner faces of the corner posts. The guide rods are spaced from the corner posts or end frames at their lower ends by the usual apertured angle brackets 20 which also support coil springs l8 on therods as shown to cushion the downward movement of the drop sides. The rectangular spring frame which supports the mattress is indicated at 2! and it is mounted for both vertical and angular adjustment. That mounting is accomplished by providing at the plates 26 secured by screws 21 to the inner faces of the corner posts. The stirrup plates 26 are fastened to the corner posts at the same elevation'and it will be apparent that when the four hangers 22 have their outer ends 24 engaged with the bearing lugs 25 disposed in the same horizontal plane, the mattress frame will be supported latter.

r the slots.

horizontally and may be raised or lowered or angled lengthwise of the crib by positioning the ends 24 in appropriate lugs 25.

For the purpose of stabilizing the crib and maintaining the guide rods perpendicular and in parallel relation to each other so that the drop sides may slide freely without binding, I connect the two ends by two side rails or bars 28. These stabilizing bars may be of Wood or metal and have adjustably'connected to their end portions meta1 brackets 29 which are detachably and adjustably connected to the corner posts I3 as presently described. The lower portions of the adjustable brackets 29 are of right angular shape having inner longitudinally disposed arms 35 and outer transversely disposed arms 3 I. Each bracket is formed by stamping and bending a heavy metal plate as shown in Fig. 10. To strengthen the right angular bend connecting the two arms, a portion of the metal is stamped to form a stifiening rib 32 extending 'into-eacharm. The inner horizontal arm'isa: generally rectangular plateadapted to abut the'outer face of one of the bars 28 and is formed with longitudinally extending slots 33 to receive bolts or screws 34 to adjustably fasten it to an. end portion of the bar; The outer arm this also a fiat plate adapted to abut a fiat area on a corner post but it is extended vertically much higher'than the upper edge of the arm 36, its upper portion being reduced in widthand bent at right angles to provide a flat horizontal lug 35. The latter is so shaped and disposedthat it serves as a brace for one of th rods l8 and also'as a stop to positively limit the upward movement 'of a drop side at one end of the'latter. As' see'n in Fig. '7 the lug 35 has a hole or opening 36- through which the rod [8 extendsand its flat bottom is'radapted to be engaged by the upper surface of an end portion of the lower rail l of the drop side to positively limit the upward movement of the Struck upwardly from the inner portion of each of the lugs 35' is a bearing, hookZS which serves the same purpose-of oneof the hooks 25,

thereby increasing the range of adjustment of The adjustable connec-.

the mattress frame 2i. tion between the bracket arm or plate BI and the corner post includes two' headed screws 3'! and 38 and two slots 39 and. 43. The slot 39 is formed in the lower portion of the plate 3! .7.-

and has a lower circular portion of larger diameter than the head of screw 31 which pass through the slot and is threaded inthe post. The slot 39 is vertically elongated and its upper end correspondsto the diameter of the shank of the screws 3?, 38 are loosened, the circular lower por- -tions of the two slots may be passed over the heads of the two screws and the bracket 29' may then be lowered so that the shanks of the screws maybe disposed in the small upper portions of When the parts are in that position the upper or arcuate portion 43 permits the bracket to have a slight pivotal movement about the axis of the shank of the screw 31 for a purpose hereinafter described.

For the purpose of looking or latching either or both of the sides in their raised and lowered positions, I provide a very simple and inexpensive foot or leg controlled latching means, As shown the latter extends along the bottom rails 46 of each of the drop sides and includes two slidable latch rods or bolts 46 with end portions that normally extend beyond the ends of the lower rail l6 under the action of coil springs 4| and are simultaneously retracted by the swinging movement of a U-shaped foot actuated member 42 disposed adjacent the central and under portion of the drop side. The latch rod it at each end of the drop side is slidable in a groove formed along the inner or rear loweredge of the rail I 6 and is retained in such groove by a short inner angle plate 44 as shown in Figs. 3 and '7 and a long outer angle plate 45 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The vertical arm of the plate 45 is secured by a screw 46 against the inner face of the rail l5 and its horizontal arm is formed by three spaced tongues which engage the bottom of" the rail and one or more of which may be fastened by a screw 41. The inner end of each groove communicates with a chamber or recess 48' formed in thebottom of the rail l5 and'in which the spring 4| is disposed. One end of the spring is anchoredto a nail as seen in Fig. 4, and, its other end is anchoredto a shoulder 49 formed by laterally ofisetting the latch rod 46. The inner end 56 of the latter is bent at right angles and pivotally engaged with an opening in one arm of a bell-crank or T-shaped lever 51 disposed inthe chamber'48. Another arm of the lever" 5i is pivoted on a transverse pivot pin 52 which extends across the upper portion of the chamber 4-8 and is insertable into a transverse bore 53' from the inner face of: the rail as will beunderstcod on reference to Fig. 6. The third arm 54 of the lever is thrust by action of the coil spring 41 against a crank arm 55' formed at one end of the U-shape foot piece or'actuator 42. The latch actuator has two angular arms 56 bent-to provide two longitudinally alined pivot portions 51 from the outer extremities of which project the "crank arms 55 for simultaneously actuating the levers 5| and thereby simultaneously retracting the latch rods 40 at the opposite ends. of the-drop side. The pivot portions 51 are disposed along the" inner face of the rail i6 and each is mounted in a bearing 58 on a plate 59 secured by screws 6b; This plate as shown in Fig. 6 retains the pivot pin 52 in its bore 53. The two crank arms 55 of the U-shaped actuator swing in transverse slots 6! formed in the inner face of the rail I6 and in communication with the chamber 48'. It will be seen that when the foot. piece or actuator is pushed inwardly and rearwardly, the projecting, ends of the two latch rods 49 will be simultaneously retracted.

The free ends of the latch rods coact with keepers or'catch lugs 62 formed on the brackets 29 to 10Ck0r' retain the drop side in its" raised or closed position, and also with keepers or catch lugs63 formed on the angle brackets 20 to lock or retain the drop side in its open or lowered position. The keeper 63 is in the formof a downwardly inclined tongue or finger struck from the angle plate 20 along its inner edge, and its lower end is formed with a curved seat 64 under which an end of one of the rods 40 extends to prevent upward movement of the drop side. The keeper or catch is disposed in the path of vertical movement of the latch rod and the downward inclination of the keeper causes the projecting end of the latch rod to be retracted as the drop side slides downwardly. When the cushioning spring 18*- is compressed by the downward movement of the drop slide,

engage the seat 64. The keeper or catch 62 is similar but is inclined upwardly so that the end of the latch rod will be retracted by the inclined or angular side of the keeper as the drop side is moved upwardly. The curved seat 65 at. the

retain the bracket in correct position on the end post. The provision of the slots 33 in the arms fill of the brackets 29 permit of the effective lengths of the stabilizing bars 28 tobe varied.

These adjustments take care of slight variations in the sizes of the parts and permit of the assembly of the parts so that thecrib will not only be rigid or non-wobbly, but the drop sides will have free and easy sliding movement on the guide I rods I8.

The mattress frame 2| may be supported in other ways than as above described and the end frames ll may be connected and spaced apart by other means than the side rails 28. When these rails or side bars are not used, I may substitute for the brackets 29, brackets 29 of the construction shown in Fig. ll. Each bracket 29 is of right angular shape having a vertical portion 3 l corresponding to the arm 3! and formed with openings 39 and 43 to respectively receive the screws 31 and 38. An upwardly inclined keeper or catch member 62 is struck out of the vertical portion or plate and corresponds to the keeper 62. The horizontal arm 35 of the bracket 29 corresponds to the stop lug 35 and is formed with an opening through which the rod i8 extends and also with a struck out hook 25 which serves the purpose of the hook 25 in Fig. 9.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is invited to thepossibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed. I claim: 1. In a crib having end members with corner posts carrying upright guide rods spaced at their upper and lower ends from. the posts, a drop side with upper and lower rails apertured to receive the guide rods and spring-projected manually-retractable latch rods slidable on the lower rail of the drop side; angle brackets each having a vertically disposed attaching plate and a horizontal stop arm apertured to receive one of the guide rods, said attaching plates being secured to the inner faces of the opposed posts with said stop arms at their tops and disposed in the path of movement of the end portions of the lower rail of the drop side to limit the upward movement of the latter, and upwardly and inwardly inclined keeper lugs on the attaching plates to coact With the latch rods to fasten the drop side in its raised position.

2. In a crib having end members with corner posts and, a drop side'between opposed corner posts, the drop side having upper and lower rails with vertical apertures adjacent their ends, guide rods extending through said apertures and having oiT-set upper ends secured to the inner faces of the corner posts, angle brackets secured to the lower portions of the corner posts and having apertures to receive said rods to space them from the posts, an inwardly and downwardly extending latch keeper on each of said angle brackets, said keepers having seats at their lower ends, and manually-retracted spring-projected slidable latch bolts carried by the lower rail of said drop side and engageable with the seats of said keepers to fasten the drop side in its lowered position.

3. In alcrib having end members with corner posts each carrying an upright guide rod with means at its ends for spacing it inwardly from a post, drop sides with upper andlower rails apertured to receive the guide rods, and manually-retractable latch bolts spring-projected beyond the ends of the lower rails of the drop sides; a right angled bracket at each corner of the crib, each bracket having a longitudinally extending horizontal arm and an outwardly extending vertical arm for disposition against one of the corner posts, two longitudinal side bars each connecting the two horizontal bracket arms on the same side of the crib, a fiat horizontally disposed stop lug projecting inwardly from the upper end of each of the verticalarms of said brackets, the under sides of said stop lugs being engageable by the upper sides of the end portions of the lower rails of thedrop sides to limit the upward movement of the'latter, said stop lugs having openings to receive the guide rods to brace them intermediate their ends, keeper lugs .on the intermediate portions of the vertical arms of the brackets, said keeper lugs being inclined upwardly and inwardly and having seats at their upper ends to be engaged by the projected latch bolts to lock the drop sides in their raised positions, and upper and lower headed screws in each of the corner posts to adjustably latch bolts when the drop sides are moved vertically.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said longi tudinally extending arms of the brackets are formed with longitudinal slots to receive screw threaded fastenings forlongitudinally adjusting said brackets on said side bars.

5. In a crib, spaced end members supporting latch keepers, a vertically movable drop side between the end members and having a bottom rail, longitudinally slidable latch rods on each end portion of said bottom rails, said latch rods being spring projected beyond the ends of said rail for coaction with the keepers, levers for retracting said latch rods pivotally mounted on said rail at points spaced inwardly from its ends, and a U- shaped foot actuated lever extending longitudinally of the central portion of said rail and having arms pivotally mounted on said rail with crank portions for coaction with said latch retracting levers.

6. In a crib, spaced end members supporting latch keepers, a vertically movable drop side between the end members and having a lower horizontal rail formed in its bottom with chambers spaced inwardly from its ends and also with longitudinal grooves along its inner bottom edge, the grooves extending from the ends of the rail and opening into said chambers, said rail also having in its inner face vertically extending slots which open into said chambers, a three armed lever in each of said chambers, each lever having an upper arm mounted on a transverse pivot, a downwardly extending arm and a longitudinally extending arm disposed opposite one of said slots, a latch rod in each of said grooves and slidably retained therein by angle plates, the outer ends of the latch rods being spring projected beyond the ends of the lower rail for coaction with the keepers, the inner ends of the latch rods being disposed in said chambers and having bent ends pivotally engaged with the lower arms of said levers, and a U-shaped foot lever for simultaneously retracting said latch rods, said foot lever having arms with axially alined bearing portions pivotally mounted on the inner f ace of said lower rail and with crank arnis extending through said slots for coaction with the longitudinally extending arms of said. three-armed levers.

7. In a crib having end members with corner posts provided on their inner faces with flat areas. upright guide rods spaced inwardly from said posts and having their upper ends rigidly secured to the latter, drop sides with upper and lower rails apertured to receive the guide rods, and manually retractable latch bolts spring-projected beyond the ends of the lower rails of the drop sides: means for stabilizing the crib and maintaining the guide rods vertical and in parallel relation comprising two stabilizing side bars extending longitudinally between the end members and offset inwardly from the associated corner posts, a right angled bracket at each corner of the crib between saidsidebars and the end members, each bracket having an inner longitudinally extending horizontal arm incontact with an endportionlof one of said side bars and an outwardly extending "upright arm with a flat face in contactwith one of said fiat areas of the corner posts, said horizontal arms having longitudinal .slots, said upright arms having vertically extending upper and lower slots with enlarged lower ends, the upper slots being formed with lateral extensions, a keeper lug on each of said upright arms positioned between said upper and lower slots to coact with the ends of said latch bolts, a horizontally disposed lug projecting inwardly from the upper end of each of said upright arms and formed with an opening to receive one of said guide rods, vertically spaced headed screws on each of said flat areas of the corner posts to enter the enlarged ends of the slots in one of the upright arms for detachable mounting of the brackets on the corner posts, the brackets being downwardly movable on the shanks of the screws and'being capable of angular adjustment about the shanks of the lower screws by the disposition of the shank-s of the upper screws'in the lateral extensions of the upper slots, and screw threaded fastenings in the side bars engaged with the slots of said horizontal arms to adjustably fasten them to the end portions of said side bars.

VICTOR J. BUKOLT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

